Versatility, physicality, and instincts are three traits that NFL teams are desperately seeking from NFL defensive backs. Without a doubt, Keionte Scott has flashed all three as the leader in the secondary for a Miami Hurricanes team that has found itself in college football’s national semifinals. Scott’s “pick six” early in the second quarter against Ohio State was the supreme highlight of what has been a consistently high-quality tape from the defensive back for months.
As Scott rises into contention for a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which five teams might be looking to select him?
Kansas City Chiefs
Keionte Scott is a versatile nickel defender who has also spent time at outside corner and safety. There aren’t many teams where Scott wouldn’t fit, but the Chiefs would be an obvious marriage thanks to his greatest strength.
The defensive back is an instinctive, physical blitzer. Kansas City’s 31.4% blitz rate was fourth in the NFL, and they should be near the top of the league again if Steve Spagnuolo returns. Spags is interviewing for head coaching jobs, which would vault his new team to the top of the list for Scott, as well.
If nothing else, Scott would bring back a little bit of the thump to Kansas City’s defensive backfield that was missing this past season, as K.C. missed the postseason for the first time since 2014.
New York Giants
The Giants could land the best safety in the draft, Caleb Downs, as a jack-of-all-trades option in the secondary at No. 5 overall.
However, if Big Blue uses that pick on a position with more relative value, then they’ll likely select a defensive back somewhere on Day 2. Dru Phillips, the team’s current nickel, gave up 7.5 yards per pass attempt his direction this past season.
Keionte Scott brings a physical element from the nickel and/or safety position with a desire to contribute in the run game. That would help the league’s worst rush defense on a yards-per-attempt basis (5.3).
If John Harbaugh is indeed the Giants’ guy, a versatile box safety — such as Kyle Hamilton or Alohi Gilman — has to be on the menu for whichever “friend of the Harbaughs” ends up in the defensive coordinator role.
Minnesota Vikings
If Brian Flores were staying as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, the blitz-heavy mastermind would adore Keionte Scott.
Scott’s speed and physicality are a perfect fit for a Flores defense, which could ultimately make his next destination a top target for the Miami defensive back as well.
At the very least, the Vikes are going to need at least one safety as Harrison Smith appears finally set to ride into the sunset. This franchise has historically been buoyed by smart, physical safeties like Smith, Darren Sharper, Andrew Sendejo, and others. Scott could be a similar fit.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders need just about everything, but it’s beginning to shape up pretty clearly that they’ll spend their first two picks on some combination of quarterback, offensive line, and wide receiver.
Therefore, Scott, who could be projected to go around the beginning of Round 3, might be among the best available secondary players when John Spytek turns to a unit that was — no doubt — Las Vegas’ kryptonite on defense.
Realistically, all five positions in Vegas’ nickel set could use an upgrade, so Scott’s versatility should help him contribute right away as a rookie.
As a player unafraid to lay the wood, going to a team with Jack Tatum, Rod Woodson, and George Atkinson in its history books would be fitting.
Cincinnati Bengals
My favorite landing spot for Scott would be a Day 2 selection for a Cincinnati Bengals team that, to me, is a perfect fit for defensive lineman Peter Woods in the first round.
If there’s a team that’s “back seven” has been squishy and unintimidating for nearly a decade, it’s a Bengals defense that allowed 7.0 yards per attempt (29th in the NFL) through the air with just 2.1 sacks per game (26th in the NFL) in 2025.
However, I’m not sure Al Golden will push for Scott’s retention if he’s still the DC. The Bengals’ blitz rate was a league-low 17.1% last year, and asking Scott to solely drop into coverage isn’t maximizing his strengths.
The fact that Scott might not be on the Bengals’ radar is probably a sign of why they’ve struggled defensively for most of the Joe Burrow era. They could probably use someone like him lurking around the line of scrimmage.
Keionte Scott Scouting Report: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Top Comps
As hinted at throughout Keionte Scott’s best fits, there isn’t a more physical defensive back in the entire 2026 class than the thumper from “The U”.
With EDGEs Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor setting the tone up front, the Hurricanes’ roving playmaker is often asked to use his elite instincts — which produced a crucial interception in the Cotton Bowl — to make plays by jumping passing lanes or laying out skill players.
Scott’s instincts translate as a blitzer, which has been a common theme in the late 2025-26 tape. He racked up five sacks in six games, starting with the Canes’ loss to Louisville, through a two-sack effort in the playoffs against Texas A&M. It feels like they found his identity on defense right around that first loss of the season.
However, for someone whose primary assignment is to blow things up toward the line of scrimmage, Scott’s hips are fluid enough to provide passable coverage on the outside, putting the physical instincts away to avoid grabbing penalties. Further concerns might come from elite slot route technicians at the next level, though.
I walked away from Scott’s tape, blown away by someone projected as a fringe Day 2 pick. At this moment, his greatest weaknesses are common for modern defensive backs. Scott can often dive at the legs too often when tackling in space. He can also get beaten trying to cheat with his eyes in the backfield when assigned coverage — and he’s often too aggressive trying to make a play doing so.
Those points aside, Scott is a relentless competitor who hunts for big hits and game-changing turnovers. He has extreme versatility to line up at multiple spots.
As we see the best secondaries in the NFL comprised of those sorts of physical, intimidating forces, it’s hard to watch Scott’s tape and think he won’t be a high-level contributor at the pro level.
This is high praise, but a taller Tyrann Mathieu is the versatile, aggressive name that comes to mind when I watch him operate in Miami’s dominant defense.
Scott Mock Draft Data
Keionte Scott is a quick riser in PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator.
As an undrafted player in preseason mock data, Scott’s average draft position (ADP) is currently 139.8 and climbing.
The most common teams that Scott is mocked to be drafted by are the Green Bay Packers (1.3%), Miami Dolphins (1.1%), New Orleans Saints (0.9%), Dallas Cowboys (0.9%), and San Francisco 49ers (0.8%).
Although Scott isn’t a traditional outside corner with a plug-and-play scouting projection, a creative defensive schemer will likely have a specific role in mind for him to maximize his strengths and make plays at the NFL level.
